Experience with Police Officers on August 18 2009
Venue: Blk 112 Hougang Ave 1 #11-1100, Singapore 530112
My boyfriend made a police report as per request of a couple who was involved in a misunderstanding due to a misunderstanding between them and our 12 year old neighbour.
When the Police Officers arrived, one of the Police Officer (lets call him A) swaggered towards us and asked what happened. My boyfriend explained the situation and as we were only witnesses, he started to questioned our neighbour, asking for his IC repeatedly. Our 12 year old neighbour was at the point of time on the phone relating to his aunt and uncle the incident that had just happened.
I then told A the alleged party involved (our 12 year old neighbour) was just a child. (To me it was obvious that he was a young boy, one who was most probably still in pri sch, even though I did not know his actual age at the point of time and had later on checked with the boy’s grandma his age. )
A’s immediate reply was “Do I know?” in a incredulous tone. I am not sure if this is the way a police officer handles cases. Shouldn’t he have just politely said: “I did not know”. Putting that aside, the alleged party was a mere child and even as a passerby I could see that fact. How can a trained Police Sergant not be able to judged? I had always believed in the efficiency and quick ability of Singapore’s police officers in cracking cases and being able to somehow pin point an age to a suspect, due largely to all the news reports, etc. Therefore I found it hard to believe that he was unable to judge and found his rude reply shocking. I found myself starting to question the ability and commitment of this officer involved.
Next, my boyfriend kindly took over the phone from our 12 year old neighbour and assisted in explaining to the aunt and uncle over the phone what had transpired. Our 12 year old neighbour on the
insistance of his grandmother went upstairs to take his bus pass. During the whole time, A was glaring at my boyfriend who was talking with our neighbour’s aunt and uncle. I was curious as to why he stared at my boyfriend. So I asked him “Sir, why are you staring at him?”
I forgot what was his reply but think it was something like “I am listening to the conversation.”
I then told A that I do not think it was right for him to do so, because it is a private conversation first of all. He then said that as police officers they have to keep their ears open so that they can
catch criminals or solve crimes. But I felt that since it was a private conversation. If you want to find out more information, couldn’t you have waited to ask for the facts? And even if police officers do have the right to listen to our private conversations, was there a need to listen and stare in such a rude manner?
Seriously, if A was not in the police uniform I would have thought that he was a gangster trying to pick a fight. I was feeling slightly threatened by his behaviour. Aren’t we, as Singapore citizens supposed to feel protected and safe by the police? I was steadily losing confidence at how A was handling this case.
After ending his telephone call, my boyfriend told A that he, as a Police Officer shouldn’t have badgered our 12 year old neighbour when he was on the phone talking. As for the child he must be feeling really lost and scared by the way A demanded for his I/C.
A then commented that even children, can be criminals and that our 12 year old neighbour should not have been talking to his aunt and uncle when we had called for the police to step in. I would like to stress here that the couple involved (middle-aged, around their 30s) were the ones who made the request to report to the police, and my boyfriend obliged with their request. During the whole saga described above, the couple were just standing at the side of the scene. To be efficient, shouldn’t they haveattended to and interviewed them first if one party is occupied? I can’t help but feel the Police Officer approached us first because all of us look younger, which probably make us look more vulnerable.
I then told A that when someone had been trying to contact your elders before, it was onlyh logical and polite for that someone to pick up the phone call. A then replied “You called the police what. You want the police to handle the case right? So now what you want? You want us to settle the case?”
I found it extremely rude and offensive and it was coming across as if he was abusing his authority. So does this mean that we are suppose to give up all rights to answer phone calls if we were involved in a police investigation, does that mean that I would have to boycott all calls even if it was from my employer, a family member or my lawyer? Do we not have the right to answer phone calls in the midst of a police investigation? Must we prioritise the police in all situations that they are involved, when they are serving Singapore Citizens?
Following which, A motioned for our 12 year old neighbour to follow him to one side, away from us and his grandmother. I felt that it was wrong to interview a minor away from a legal
guardian, especially since it was evident that the minor was traumatized by A earlier. So I went over and questioned him.
Due to my lack of knowledge of the law system, Sergant Mohd Azmi corrected me and said “do you know that the police have the rights to take a minor and interrogate him in the police station alone?” He then asked me “you don’t trust the police?” To which I responded, (after seeing how A handled the case), “Yes, I do not trust the police” However, as I still felt that the grandmother had the right to be at the boy’s side, seeing that the boy was really traumatized by the whole incident and that the boy have not even committed a crime. So I asked the grandmother to go over. A immediately motioned for the grandmother to stay away, I dont’ really think this was right.
At this point of time the other police officer was interviewing the Malay couple. And the matter was eventually resolved with an apology from the couple involved.
However, as we were unpleased with how the whole situation was handled, my boyfriend asked for the rank and name of the officers involved. Immediately, they asked for my particulars.
It felt like an action to intimidate, to threaten. Why are our particulars immediately demanded when we mentioned that we wanted to lodge a complain?
why shouldn’t I trust the police since my boyfriend
say police officers should have recieved proper training to handle cases. Why am I being questioned on my trust on the police? Isn’t it up to the public to grade how if the law enforcers are trustworthy? Even when MPs run for election, Singaporean Citizens have the right to decide who we trust and therefore support Isn’t that a basic right?
I didn’t, and couldn’t convince myself to trust the police, because of what I saw and experienced. I am disappointed at how this case was being handled, that in being a good citizen in helping our neighbour (the 12 year old boy) in this misunderstanding warrant such attitude from a law enforcer. The following is an extract from the Police Pledge:”We pledge to serve our
community and our country and to be courteous and humane in our dealings with every fellowman.” Once again I can only say that I am utterly truely saddened by this incident and really find it hard to have faith in the Singapore Police Force.
I then asked A’s partner. “Why do you request for our particulars immediately when we mentioned that we want to complain?” He said, “nothing nothing.. just a routine check.” What is there to check on? Whether do we always complain? I am at a loss regarding their professionalism and am i repeat utterly dissapointed with the law enforcers!
The Station Inspector and Inspector then came to the scene as they were in the area and, after A had either walkie talkie or phoned them.
When they arrived on at the scene, I have to admit that they gave me a feeling of assurance and trust. After listening to the side of our story, they mentioned that he will check with A on this the case and provide us with an approriate response.
He then called us at around 2am (seriously.. why at such a werid timing?) , telling my boyfriend that he had spoken with A and that A claimed that he did not raise his voice at our 12 year
old neighbour. So the Station Inspector then said, so it is not intimidating. We then mentioned that there is different ways of intimidation. It might not be a matter of voice level, but his body language was still rather intimidating. At which the Station Inspector mentioned that this is still rather subjective. (I will attached up the photo soon..)
Station Inspector then questioned my boyfriend what does he deem by appropriate behaviour. My boyfriend then mentioned that he believed that the police would have recieved proper training on how to handle interviews with minors. I spoke up at this, and the Station Inspector said that I had told A that I do not trust the police. And that
I do not think that what we have experienced is an isolated case. And that I feel there should be some public forum which people are able to grade and feedback on these supposed law enforcers because to me, some are merely abusing their authority. Wearing an uniform do not give you the right to be rude.
Shiba Inu
Another colouring for a Shiba Inu.
